In 1926, the Sierra historian Francis Farquhar wrote Place Names of the High Sierra. Published by the Sierra Club, it quickly became a standard reference book. Since then, more than half of the names on the present topographic maps of the Sierra have been created, but Farquhar died before he was able to complete his planned revision.

 

Peter Browning, who was given access to Farquhar's extensive revision notes, has written an entirely new book on the place names of the Sierra Nevada. He has perused many original sources, including the place-names file of the national parks and forests, the decision lists of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, and field notes of the U.S. Geographical Survey topographers responsible for naming many of the features. This new book gives the derivation and lore associated with each name as well as quotes from many of the explorers and travelers of the Sierra Nevada."